The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Kentucky's State Wildlife Action Plan. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has monitored Kentucky's peregrine falcon population since 1997. However, research on the movements, habitat use, and breeding and non-breeding home range of Kentucky's nesting peregrine falcons is lacking. In this study, we used a solar-powered platform transmitter terminal (PTT) with global positioning system (GPS) and Argos capabilities to monitor the movements of a single adult, breeding female, peregrine falcon from 7 June 2015 to 4 May 2018. We found that the female falcon spent the majority of her time in close proximity to the nest site throughout the breeding and non-breeding season. Seasonal home range varied significantly with the largest home range size estimated during the post-fledging period, followed by the non-breeding season, and the smallest home range occurring during the pre-fledge period of the breeding season. We suspect that the increase in home range size observed during the post-fledging period can be attributed to parental care and post-fledge dependency of young.

The Red River Gorge Geological Area (RRGGA) and Clifty Wilderness (CW) are two gems of biodiversity in eastern Kentucky which draw over 40,000 visitors annually. Vascular floras of two wetlands (Booth Pond and Fish Trap) within the RRGGA and CW were conducted during the 2018 growing season. This project utilized 106 vouchers from 2016–2018, and documented 35 families, 49 genera, and 61 species. The most taxon-rich families include Cyperaceae (10 spp.), Fagaceae (four spp.), and Rubiaceae (four spp.). Rosa multiflora Thunb. ex Murr., an invasive species classified as a severe threat by the Kentucky Invasive Plant Council, was found at both sites. This study investigated two different ecological systems – Central Interior Highlands and Appalachian Sinkhole and Depression Pond with the upland sweetgum-red maple pond association (Booth Pond), and a Cumberland Seepage Forest with a forested swamp bog association (Fish Trap). Both associations are listed as imperiled (G2) by NatureServe. A Floristic Quality Assessment was also conducted for each site. Booth Pond had a Floristic Quality Index (FQI) score of 23.88 and a mean Coefficient of Conservatism (C) of 4.88 and Fish Trap had an FQI score of 23.57 and a mean C of 5.14.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of brief, recorded instructions in the use of mindfulness or cognitive distraction for coping with acute, experimentally induced pain. We compared these interventions to a relaxation condition. We used a mixed design two-way analysis of variance including one within-subjects variable, time of measurement, and one between-subjects variable, experimental condition. Dependent variables included objective pain tolerance and subjective perceptions of pain intensity and pain unpleasantness. After excluding participants who reached the ceiling during the pretest pain measurement, our final sample included 145 college students. Results indicated a significant effect of time of measurement, such that participants experienced increased pain tolerance and decreased pain intensity and pain unpleasantness at posttest, F (1, 142) = 68.23, P < 0.001, partial η² = 0.33; F (1, 141) = 33.87, P < 0.001, partial η² = 0.19; and F (1, 141) = 79.44, P < 0.001, partial η² = 0.36, respectively. The interactions between experimental condition and time of measurement were nonsignificant, Ps > 0.156. These findings suggest that very brief instruction in the use of mindfulness, cognitive distraction, or relaxation is an effective method for coping with acute pain. Future research should investigate whether there is some minimum duration of intervention necessary for a treatment effect and whether the length of intervention interacts with intervention content. Clinical implications include the possibility that instruction in psychological methods for coping with pain may be a useful adjunctive or alternative treatment approach to the use of opioid medications. KEYWORDS: Acute Pain, Cognitive Distraction, Mindfulness, Relaxation, Coping, Cold Pressor